Tag: Biography

Book Review: “Embroidering Her Truth: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power” by Clare Hunter

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The field of history is ever-expanding as we find new artifacts and documents that change our understanding of the past. Some of the more precious artifacts are textiles, from clothing to embroidery and even wall hangings and bedding. They can tell us a lot about their owner if you understand the symbolism. While some symbolism can be rather simple, other textile symbolism could help display the voice of a woman who was silenced, like the women of the 16th century. One woman who used textiles to display her power and her own voice was Mary Queen of Scots. Clare Hunter explores Mary’s life through the textiles connected with her life in her book, “Embroidering Her Truth: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power.”

I have seen this book mentioned on a few pages and podcasts, and it sounded alluring to me. I have tried my hand at embroidery, so I appreciate the craft itself. I have wondered about textiles and how they could be interpreted, which is why this appealed to me so much. I couldn’t wait to own it and read it.

So how do you tell the story of Mary Queen of Scots through the textiles connected to her life? Well, for Hunter, she decided to weave her own interactions with these textiles into Mary’s life in chronological order while analyzing the textile artifacts. Each chapter focuses on a different stage of Mary’s life, as well as the textiles that fit that period. Some of the examples of the artifacts that are mentioned in this book include the gowns she wore when she was about to marry the Dauphin, the fashion dolls to help bring French fashion to Scotland, Catholic banners, and memorabilia to spread the faith. We also get to see the embroideries that she planned meticulously while in custody with Bess of Hardwick, to spread their own truths and their political power while being silenced. Finally, Hunter explores the dress that Mary wore during her execution and what happened to her clothing after her death.

I will say that this is one of the most original nonfiction books that I have read in a long time. It presented Mary’s life through a different lens and showed that she did have power even as a prisoner. It gave me a better appreciation for Mary’s life and the amount of effort it took to craft such intricate pieces of textiles. I hope Hunter writes more about the history of textiles beyond the 16th century because I think her writing style and knowledge of the subject can help grow interest in this area of historical studies. If you want a book that explores the life of Mary Queen of Scots from a different angle, I highly recommend you read “Embroidering Her Truth: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power” by Clare Hunter. 

Book Review: “Anne Boleyn’s First Love: The Life of Henry Percy” by Jan-Marie Knights

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Every Tudor nerd knows the story of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. A relationship that started with lust/love turned tragic with the execution of Anne. However, Henry VIII was not the only man who was vying for Anne’s affection. The first man who ever asked for Anne’s hand in marriage was Henry Percy, the man who would become the 6th Earl of Northumberland. The relationship obviously did not happen, and for many, Henry Percy became an obscure figure in Tudor history. Who was Henry Percy, and what happened to him after Wolsey broke up the relationship between Henry and Anne? Jan-Marie Knights explores his life in the first full-length biography of Henry Percy in her latest book, “Anne Boleyn’s First Love: The Life of Henry Percy.”

I would like to thank Amberley Publishing for sending me a copy of this book. I am always interested in reading about lesser-known figures during the time of the Tudors, so when I saw this title, I was intrigued. I knew a little bit about Henry Percy, so I was hoping to learn more about his life.

To understand Henry Percy’s place in Tudor society, we have to go back to the origins of the family, which traces back all the way to William the Conqueror. Knights follow the branches of the Percy tree, with the many Henrys, to the Henry Percy who this biography is about, including the infamous Henry “Hotspur” Percy. Our Henry was the son of Henry Algernon Percy, 5th Earl of Northumberland, and his wife, Catherine Spencer. We get to see Henry become a page for Cardinal Wolsey and become a knight in his own right.

Henry wanted to marry and start a family with Anne Boleyn, and it seems like, at the time, she was interested in him as well. However, it was not meant to be, as King Henry VIII also had his eyes on Anne. Obviously, the King would marry Anne, and Henry would marry Mary Talbot. Both relationships did not have a happy ending. Besides his troubled marriage with Mary, we get to see how Henry dealt with conflicts near the border with Scotland and the Pilgrimage of Grace, which hit a bit closer to home. Henry died without any heirs, so Knights shows what happened to the earldom of Northumberland.

I was a bit underwhelmed with this biography. I wanted more information about Henry Percy, but I felt like his story was buried with information about his family, his father, and the story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn’s romance. I think Knights did a decent job with the research aspect of this book. If you want a good introductory biography to the Percy family and Henry Percy’s role in the Tudor court, you might want to try “Anne Boleyn’s First Love: The Life of Henry Percy” by Jan-Marie Knights.

Book Review: “The Lady Queen: The Notorious Reign of Joanna I, Queen of Naples, Jerusalem, and Sicily” by Nancy Goldstone

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A young queen stands on trial for the death of her husband. Some believed that she had something to do with his murder. They see her as a villainous woman who wants power, but in the time that she is living in, a woman must fight for any ounce of power she can get. This might sound familiar to those who study 16th-century European history, but our story goes back a few centuries to the 14th century. The story of Joanna I, Queen of Naples, Jerusalem, and Sicily, is often overlooked among the stories of powerful queens, especially those who came after her. However, Joanna’s story is worth telling, which is why Nancy Goldstone has decided to tell her tale in her biography, “The Lady Queen: The Notorious Reign of Joanna I, Queen of Naples, Jerusalem, and Sicily.”

I have heard of Joanna I of Naples from other history books, but her story was briefly mentioned. I didn’t really get a sense of who she was. That was until I found this book in a used bookstore and read the description on the back, which mentioned the murder case against her. It was very intriguing, and I wanted to know how she got to that point and how she became a legendary female ruler. 

Joanna was the eldest daughter of Charles, Duke of Calabria, and Marie of Valois, Duchess of Calabria. When both of her parents died, Joanna and her sister Maria were raised by their grandparents, Robert the Wise King of Naples, and his second wife, Sancia of Majorca. Since Joanna’s father died young, he never became King of Naples, so the title passed on to Joanna. With the title came the responsibility to marry well and produce an heir. Neither of these conditions came easily for poor Joanna. 

Her first husband was her cousin, Andrew, Duke of Calabria, the son of King Charles I of Hungary. They did not exactly see eye to eye when it came to who was in control of Naples, but the marriage did not last long as Andrew was assassinated, and the country of Hungary blamed Joanna for his death. Joanna decided to argue her case in court, and the pope found in her favor. Joanna’s second husband was Louis of Tartano, but again, it was a marriage at odds as Louis took all the real power away from Joanna. Husband number 3, James IV of Majorca, was the worst husband of all, as he was mentally unstable and abusive towards Joanna. Finally, Joanna married Otto of Brunswick, who was accepting of Joanna’s position as queen. 

While we tend to focus on Joanna’s marital exploits, she was also a queen of not only Naples, but also Jerusalem and Sicily. Joanna was connected to some of the greatest minds of the era, including Petrarch and Boccaccio, and would go on to build churches and hospitals. She was an ally to the papacy until the Great Schism, which would result in Europe being divided and the murder of Joanna. 

This was an extremely well-written and researched biography. Goldstone was able to show Joanna in a more sympathetic light and really made me feel sorry for a woman who lived centuries ago. It shows how dangerous it was for a woman in power during the Middle Ages and how one woman tried hard to fight for herself and her country. If you want a fantastic biography of one of the most dynamic and legendary medieval queens of all time, I highly recommend you read “The Lady Queen: The Notorious Reign of Joanna I, Queen of Naples, Jerusalem, and Sicily” by Nancy Goldstone.

Book Review: “Desiderius Erasmus: The Folly or Far Sightedness of Renaissance Europe’s Greatest Mind” by Amy McElroy

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The Renaissance was a time of learning and of challenging what was considered normal, especially in theology and the foundations of the Catholic Church. It was a time when humanism was beginning to take shape as an educational system, one that focused on the classical literature of Greece and Rome, as well as on rhetoric, philosophy, and critical thinking. One of the top proponents of the school of humanism was a monk turned scholar named Desiderius Erasmus. His name and his works have been famous for centuries, but what was his life like as a scholar in 16th-century Europe? Amy McElroy explores the life of this extraordinary man in her latest book, “Desiderius Erasmus: The Folly or Far Sightedness of Renaissance Europe’s Greatest Mind.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Amy McElroy for sending me a copy of this book. I have obviously heard of Desiderius Erasmus through his visits to the Tudor court, but when it comes to knowing his life story, I knew very little about the scholar. When I heard that McElroy was writing a book about Erasmus, I was excited to read it and learn more about him, which is why I was pleasantly surprised when McElroy sent me a copy of this book.

Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam was born on either October 27 or 28 in 1469, at least according to McElroy. He was the illegitimate son of Margaret Roger and Gerard Helye, who was a scribe. His parents did want to get married, but while Gerard was travelling in Rome, he heard a rumor that Margaret had died, so he decided to become a Catholic priest instead. Erasmus would follow a similar path as his father and become a monk in an Augustinian monastery, but he wanted more from life. Erasmus had a love of learning and languages ever since he was a novice, and it is this love of learning that made him a quasi-celebrity.

Erasmus may have been one of the greatest scholars of his time, but fame did not mean wealth. The man was robbed numerous times, travelled around Europe constantly, and when he did have money, all he wanted to do was spend it on books. I completely understand the desire to buy books and write all the time. And boy did Erasmus write a lot. Some of his most famous works included In Praise of Folly and a translation of the New Testament, focusing on the original Greek, Hebrew, and Latin texts, which caused quite the uproar. He gained the respect of humanists like Thomas More and the ire of the most famous Reformer, Martin Luther. Erasmus wanted to reform the Church through education, and there were some people who did not agree with that way of thinking.

I applaud McElroy for the amount of research and the number of sources she had to use to track the busy life of Desiderius Erasmus. At times, it can be a bit dense, but everything in this book is necessary to understand the world of one of the greatest Renaissance humanists, and this book is very well written. He was a man on a mission who would not allow ill health, limited funds, or critics from stopping him from researching and writing. If you want to learn more about one of the most famous scholars of 16th-century Europe, I highly recommend you read “Desiderius Erasmus: The Folly or Far Sightedness of Renaissance Europe’s Greatest Mind” by Amy McElroy.

Book Review: “Henry V: The Scourge of God” by Desmond Seward

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In English history, there have been some legendary warrior kings, but none have captured the imagination of the general public quite like Henry V. He was the King who won a great victory at Agincourt, almost captured France, but died young and never got to see his son become king of both England and France, albeit for a short time. For the English, Henry V was seen as a hero to the nation, but is his legacy much darker? Desmond Seward dives into the archives to find a much more ruthless king for his biography, “Henry V: The Scourge of God.”

I found this book in a used bookstore after I read the most recent biography of Henry V by Dan Jones. I have heard of Desmond Seward, but I have only read one of his books before this one. I decided to see how a biography that’s almost 40 years old stands up today and how it compares to the narrative-driven biographies that are being published right now.

As Seward states in his introduction, many historians who have come before him have only focused on English sources. What Seward tries to do is show a different, darker side of the titular king, the side that the French saw when he was attacking them relentlessly. To begin with, Seward looks into how Henry of Bolingbroke, Henry’s father, became Henry IV. Since his father was a usurper, his control over the throne hung by a thread, so paranoia passed on from father to son. Henry V learned how to become a military leader through his expeditions in Wales to face off against Owain Glyndwr.

When his father died, Henry V became King of England, and he immediately set his sights on France. During this period of medieval history, the Hundred Years’ War was in full swing, and Henry V wanted to do whatever it took to destroy the French. He is most known for his victory over the French at the Battle of Agincourt, but he also took cities like Caen, Rouen, Paris, and Meaux. Henry V would be named the heir of King Charles VI of France, as well as gain a bride named Catherine of Valois, through the Treaty of Troyes. Henry V’s legacy seemed secure, but alas, he died young, and his dream of a united kingdom of France and England failed to prosper under his son, Henry VI.

While I do think that it is important to read older biographies to understand how our perceptions about historical figures have changed over time, I found this one a bit dry and overtly negative. It wasn’t as balanced as I hoped it would be. I think if you want to attempt reading this, take what Seward is saying with a grain of salt and balance it with a more contemporary biography to get a better picture of who the true King Henry V was. If you want to study more about Henry V, you might want to give “Henry V: The Scourge of God” by Desmond Seward a try.

Book Review: “Joan of Arc: A History” by Helen Castor

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We all believe we know the story of Joan of Arc, one of the patron Saints of France. A young peasant woman who God called to lead the dauphin to the altar to be crowned King Charles VII of France in a time of civil war between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians, as well as the continuation of the war between England and France. It was a political quagmire, but somehow, as the story goes, Joan of Arc resolved the civil war and gave France a fighting chance against the English. But what did Joan of Arc actually accomplish during her short life? Helen Castor examines the life of this extraordinary young woman in her book “Joan of Arc: A History.”

 

I have been following Helen Castor for a few years now, and I have heard about this book, but I have not read it until now. Since I have started studying medieval history, I have read a few accounts of Joan of Arc, but I have never read a full biography about the Maid herself, so I was excited to learn more. 

 

To understand the reason why a single young woman who donned armor and led an army to victory, we must go back to the beginning of the conflict between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians, as well as how the English had the advantage over the French at this time in the Hundred Years’ War. France had a relatively weak King Charles VI, who suffered from mental illness. Two potential leaders emerged from the chaos: the king’s son, the dauphin, Charles VII, for the Armagnacs, and John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, for the Burgundians. The Burgundians were a commanding force; the Armagnacs needed a miracle, or in this case, a maiden sent by God.

 

Joan was seen as just a peasant girl from Domremy who heard voices. This may not seem extremely extraordinary in an age where many men and women claimed to have heard voices from God. However, what separated Joan from others before her was the fact that she donned armor and led the Armagnac army during the Orleans campaign. She was victorious and was able to have the dauphin crowned King Charles VII of France. However, her luck shortly ran out when she was captured by the English, placed on trial, and declared guilty of heresy before she was burned at the stake. Finally, Castor examines the trial to redeem Joan’s legacy and how a mere girl became a patron saint of an entire country.

 

I found this a very engaging and informative biography about Joan of Arc. Castor not only tells her audience the story of a girl who became an icon, but also the story of how France was broken and became whole again. If you are a fan of medieval history, you will enjoy “Joan of Arc: A History” by Helen Castor. 

Book Review: “The Thistle and The Rose: The Extraordinary Life of Margaret Tudor” by Linda Porter

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The Tudors have been an area of fascination for historians and history nerds alike for centuries. The attention tends to focus on either Henry VIII and his six wives or his daughter, Elizabeth I, but we need to remember that they were not the only Tudors. In fact, we should remember that Henry VIII had siblings, Arthur, Margaret, and Mary. While Arthur and Mary tend to get more attention due to their proximity to Henry VIII and his marital life, Margaret Tudor had her own eventful life as Queen of Scotland and the mother of King James V. Linda Porter tells Margaret’s story in her latest biography, “The Thistle and the Rose: The Extraordinary Life of Margaret Tudor.”

I had heard that Porter was writing a new biography about Margaret Tudor, so I knew I wanted to read it. I have read a few books about Margaret Tudor, but they have been relatively short, so I wanted to see what new information Porter would include in this book.

Margaret Tudor was the second child of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York. As such, she was destined to marry a foreign prince and create a strong alliance for the brand-new Tudor dynasty. Since her brother Arthur was betrothed to Catherine of Aragon, Margaret’s parents chose a match with Scotland and King James IV, who was twice the age of Margaret. As Queen of Scotland, Margaret did her best to bridge the gap between England and Scotland, deal with her husband’s mistresses and illegitimate children, and be a mother to her son, King James V.

Everything changed when James IV died at the Battle of Flodden. Margaret was now a widow and regent for the young King James V. To protect her family, Margaret decided to marry Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, which turned out to be a trainwreck. Although Archibald did give Margaret her daughter, Margaret Douglas, he was stealing from Margaret’s own properties, which was a jerk move. Margaret wanted a divorce, but her dear brother Henry VIII was against the idea. A bit hypocritical, especially since he would divorce Catherine of Aragon a few years later. Eventually, Margaret would divorce Archibald and marry a third time to Henry Stewart, Lord Methven.

Throughout history, Margaret Tudor has been viewed negatively because she married Archibald so quickly, but Porter showed that Margaret should be applauded for how she survived during difficult circumstances. She fought for herself and her children, even if it meant that she was at odds with her husbands or her brother. Through her letters, we see how Margaret was a diplomat trying to make peace between England and Scotland.

Porter does an excellent job telling Margaret’s story in a respectful manner. This book is extremely well researched and easy to read. If you are a Tudor fan and you want to learn more about Henry VIII’s sister Margaret Tudor, I highly recommend you read “The Thistle and the Rose: The Extraordinary Life of Margaret Tudor” by Linda Porter.

Book Review: “Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England” by Alison Weir

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Throughout medieval English history, there have been some famous queens who left their marks. Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Eleanor of Castile, Philippa of Hainault, and Margaret of Anjou each left an impression on English history, either good or bad. However, there was one queen whose negative reputation came with the nickname “She-Wolf of France,” and her name was Queen Isabella of France. The wife of Edward II and mother of Edward III, she left her husband for Roger Mortimer and overthrew her husband in favor of her son. For centuries, she has been viewed as a horrible villainess, but is that a fair assessment of her life? Alison Weir dives into the archives to find the truth about Isabella of France, and she presents her findings in her biography, “Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England.”

As a fan of Alison Weir, I am trying to read every book she has written so far, so when I saw this book in a used book store, I jumped at the chance to read it. I have read books that have featured Isabella of France, but I have never read a biography about her until now. I wanted to see if this book would change how I feel about her.

Isabella of France was the daughter of Philip IV, King of France, and Jeanne I, Queen of Navarre, born in 1295. As the only surviving daughter of Philip and Jeanne, she was expected to make a match that would create an alliance, which she did when she married Edward II of England. On paper, it should have been an ideal match, but Edward II had his favorites. The first was Piers Gaveston, whom Edward II knew before he married Isabella. Edward paid more attention to advancing Gaveston than governing, which led to the great men of England (known as the Ordainers) enacting the Ordinances of 1311 and Gaveston’s execution in 1312. Edward II swore revenge against those who killed Gaveston.

For a while, Edward and Isabella had a loving relationship. They had four surviving children: Edward III of England, John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall, Eleanor Countess of Guelders, and Joan Queen of Scots. Unfortunately, Isabella’s happiness would not last long as Hugh Despenser the Younger would take the place as Edward’s new favorite. Things got so bad for Isabella that she decided to leave for France, stay there with her son Edward III, and start a relationship with Roger Mortimer. It would end with an invasion of England, the death of the Despensers, Edward II captured, and Edward III becoming King of England.

Isabella of France’s reputation may have been marred for centuries for her role in overthrowing her husband in favor of her son, and for what happened to Edward II afterward, but I think Weir does a decent job in rehabilitating her reputation. I don’t necessarily agree with her assessment of Edward II, but I felt like, when it came to Isabella herself, I appreciate her story and feel a bit sympathetic for what she had to deal with. If you want a biography about Isabella of France, I would recommend you read “Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England” by Alison Weir.

Book Review: “Henry VIII’s Controversial Aunt, Honor Lisle: Her Life, Letters, and Influence on the Tudor Court” by Amy Licence

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Marrying into the royal family is not all sunshine and rainbows. Of course, we tend to think about those who marry the king, the queen, the prince, or the princess. But we also need to consider the aunts and the uncles of the royals as part of the family. Take, for example, Arthur Plantagenet, the illegitimate son of Edward IV and the uncle of Henry VIII. His second wife, Honor Lisle, would help him rule Calais; however, she is best known for her letters and her devout Catholic faith during the Reformation in England. So why is Honor Lisle considered a controversial figure, and what was the cause of the fall of Honor and Arthur from the royal good graces? Amy Licence explores the life of Henry VIII’s step-aunt in the first full biography dedicated to Honor Lisle, which is entitled “Henry VIII’s Controversial Aunt, Honor Lisle: Her Life, Letters, and Influence on the Tudor Court.”

I would like to thank Pen & Sword Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. I have heard of Honor Lisle and her letters, but I did not know much about her life before this book. I did know that she was married to Arthur Plantagenet, but I had assumed that he was her first husband, so I didn’t know about her life before Arthur. When I saw that Amy Licence was writing a biography about Honor Lisle, I knew I wanted to read it.

Licence begins with the birth of Honor Grenville, Lady Basset, Lady Lisle Plantagenet. She was born in 1493 to Thomas and Isabel Grenville in the small town of Bideford, Devon. Her father served the first Tudor king, Henry VII, as Esquire of the Body, so Honor’s family did have some connection before Honor’s marriage to Arthur. Honor’s mother died a year after she was born, but her father did not die until 1513. In 1515, Honor would marry her first husband, Sir John Basset, and they would have between 7 and 8 children before his death in January 1528. 

A year later was a monumental year for England as it was the start of the divorce between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, which would be known as the Great Matter. It was also the year that Honor married Arthur Plantagenet. The couple would move to Calais, where Arthur would rule for his nephew. This is where we get to see the Lisle letters, Honor’s dictated correspondence to prominent figures in Tudor England. Honor and Arthur would go into debt, dealing with the constant threat of war, balance their faith and be loyal to the King, and handle a plot by Reginald Pole that would try to remove Henry VIII from the throne. 

I found it so interesting to see Honor’s perspective on the big issues of the Tudor court while staying in France, as well as how life in Calais was different from it was in London during this time. Honor Lisle’s life and letters give us great insight into the reign of Henry VIII from the perspective of someone who was outside of England during the major events of his reign. Licence’s research, combined with an easy-to-follow writing style, makes this a very well-written biography. If you want a biography about a lesser-known Tudor woman and her famous letters, I highly recommend you read “Henry VIII’s Controversial Aunt, Honor Lisle: Her Life, Letters and Influence on the Tudor Court” by Amy Licence.

Book Review: “Thomas More: A Life” by Joanne Paul

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The year is 1535, and an educated scholar, father, writer, and the former Chancellor of England marches to his demise. His crime was staying silent on an issue that the King deemed extremely important: the idea that the King of England should be the Supreme Head of the Church of England, not the Pope. As a Catholic, Sir Thomas More does not agree with this decree and must die. How did one of the most prominent Tudor scholars of his age fall so quickly? Joanne Paul explores the rise and dramatic fall of this infamous Tudor figure in her latest biography, “Thomas More: A Life.”

Joanne Paul is slowly becoming one of my favorite nonfiction writers. Her debut, “The House of Dudley,” was spectacular, and when I heard that she was writing a biography about Thomas More, I knew I wanted to read it. I know the basic information about Thomas More’s life and his books about the Wars of the Roses and Utopia, but I wanted a book that gives more details about his life.

Thomas More was the son of the lawyer John More and his wife Agnes, born in 1478. A child of the Wars of the Roses, the shifting sands of the political landscape of his youth will prepare him for the tumultuous Tudor court of his adulthood. While he recalls the reign of King Richard III in his book about the period, it should be noted that he was a boy during the king’s reign. 

Thomas became a scholar who specialized in Humanism and created a community of like-minded scholars and artists, including men like Desiderius Erasmus. Thomas More would marry twice, to Jane Colt, the mother of his children, Margaret, Elizabeth, Cecily, and John, and Alice Harpur. He would ensure that all his children received a proper Humanist education, and his children, especially Margaret, were praised for their scholarly abilities. He would begin to write like he was running out of time and create one of his most famous works about politics, Utopia, as well as go toe to toe against Martin Luther himself. 

 More would continue his academic pursuits, even when he captured the attention of King Henry VIII, who would appoint him Chancellor of England. While a great honor, Thomas did not agree with the King on the Great Matter as he believed Queen Katherine of Aragon was the rightful wife of King Henry VIII. He would persecute those whom he deemed as heretics as a devout Catholic man, and it was ultimately his faith that would lead to his earthly doom. When Henry VIII decided that he wanted his people to swear an oath that Henry VIII was the Supreme Head of the Church of England instead of the Pope. As a devout Catholic, Thomas More’s silence was deafening, and he was condemned as a traitor to the crown, destined to be executed.

Even though Thomas More was a controversial figure of the Tudor era for Ricardians and Protestants alike, we in the modern age can learn a lot from his life and apply it to our own time. Paul does it again, as this is a stunning biography of a man who was a scholar and an outspoken Catholic in a time when the King’s power was becoming dangerous.  The way she weaves the historical facts, including More’s numerous pieces of writing, with a narrative that is easy to follow is astounding. Truly, this is the definitive biography on Sir Thomas More. If you want a fabulous biography on such an infamous figure of the Tudor age, I highly recommend you read “Thomas More: A Life” by Joanne Paul.